Here in the UK supermarket behemoth Tesco has announced it is to offer the Apple iPhone in time for Christmas - a real sign of how mass market the handset is to become.

Going back 2 years, at launch the iPhone was only available on one network - O2 - and through O2, Apple or Carphone Warehouse stores, but fast forward to the present and the mobile is set to be available on three operators, and through a growing network of retailers, including now, Britain's biggest supermarket.

Tesco will offer the phone on its O2-powered Tesco Mobile network, according to a statement from the retailing giant: "Tesco Mobile through its joint venture partnership with O2 is pleased to announce that it will shortly introduce iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in Tesco Phone Shops and online through Tesco Direct in the UK".

Those hoping for Tesco pricing on the handset will almost certainly be disappointed, O2 and Orange - the two operators that offer the mobile now - have kept contract and handset prices high and with very little difference between them.

So will the ever-increasing availability of the iPhone see some of its shine rub off? Will Tesco offering the device lose the iPhone some kudos? Have your say in the comments box below.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Tesco iPhone O2

Tesco to offer the iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:38:49 +0000

While Vodafone got the exclusive on the new HTC HD2 for a few short weeks, the high-end Windows phone is now available in the UK through O2.

O2 has offered various HTC-made phones before, but the HD2 marks the first time the operator has allowed an actual HTC-branded device live on its network.

The new HD2 Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone offers a 4.3-inch multi-touch display, a speedy Snapdragon processor, a 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS and HSDPA.

"The HTC HD2 is the first HTC branded phone to be sold on O2. We love the large screen and combination of Windows Mobile 6.5 with HTC Sense", says Steve Alder, general manager devices for O2 in the UK.

"We are proud to be the home of smartphones and the HTC HD2 adds a new dimension to the range of devices we offer to our customers".

Full tariff details are to be confirmed while the website is being updated, but O2 tells us the HD2 will be avialable for free on a ?45 per month, 18-month contract - which is a fiver dearer than Voda.

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Related links:

• Feature - HTC HD2 funky features fun

Tags: Phones Mobile phones O2 HTC HTC HD2 Tariffs Windows Phone

O2 offers HTC HD2 free on £45 per month tariffs originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:50:40 +0000

Palm has revealed that the latest update for its Palm Pre smartphone is heading across the pond to Europe.

Those with a Pre on Telefonica (so, O2) networks in the UK, Ireland, Germany, and Spain can expect an automatic update to webOS 1.3.1 "soon", the company says in a blog post.

The update will be delivered over-the-air to handsets whenever they are in range of Wi-Fi or 3G coverage within the next few days, so no need for Pre owners to lift a finger.

Highlights of the update include support for LinkedIn contacts and Yahoo calendar and contact information, the ability to forward messages in the Messaging app and a new Facebook for Palm app. It's interesting to note that unlike previous updates, there is no iTunes sync re-jig.

There's more info, including the full list of tweaks, bug fixes, improvements, enhancements and whatnot over on the Palm site.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Palm Pre Palm Pre WebOS Software updates O2

Palm Pre 1.3.1 update heading to the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:03:01 +0000

In news that its customers will be happy to hear, O2 has revealed plans for a big upgrade to its UK network, with ?500 million investment over the last 2 years.

The operator - which currently offers data-happy phones such as the Apple iPhone and the Palm Pre - is looking to improve its data handling capabilities.

As part of the plans, London will see around 40 new mobile data hotspots in the city by the end of the year, with another 160 following on in the next year.

Meanwhile the rest of the country will see another 1500 new locations to boost service across the UK.

Derek McManus, chief technology officer at O2 UK, said that the company predicts a surge in data usage over the next year and is working to improve its network capacity for the future.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phone industry O2

O2 promises network improvements originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:39:08 +0000

A UK mobile phone operator has seen a data leak of millions of records from thousands of customers, the information commissioner has revealed.

Staff at one of the UK's major mobile phone companies sold on the customer information to other phone firms, Christopher Graham told the BBC, making a mockery of the data protection act.

Customers have reported being cold-called as their contracts came to an end, ultimately resulting in the phone company alerting the watchdog to the problem.

The information commissioner has searched company premises, interviewed employees and is planning to prosecute those involved, but the operator has not been officially named.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phone industry Biz Information Commissioner O2 Orange Vodafone T-Mobile 3

UK mobile phone operator sees major data theft originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:36:03 +0000

The O2 Joggler, the company's connected family-organiser-digi-frame-come-media-hub offering, has seen a dramatic price cut in the UK, suggesting the ?149 the operator was asking for the device was deemed too high by consumers.

The Joggler will now cost ?99.99 and from now on offers internet radio - bringing over 100 radio stations to the device for free - as powered by Pure's radio and media portal The Lounge.

The new addition means the Joggler now offers a calendar, music and video player, photo viewer, as well as news, traffic, weather and messaging options.

O2 is also upgrading the device's software from Flash 8 to Flash 10 and has revealed it will be making an SDK available to developers shortly via O2 Litmus, so they can create downloadable Joggler apps.

Following on from the availability of the SDK, O2 will be launching an application store for the O2 Joggler which is due to go live on the device by the end of the year.

The paid-for apps "could include anything from internet shopping through to video recipes and takeaway food applications", says O2, which clearly has big ambitions for the niche device.

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Tags: Phones O2 Digital photo frames O2 Joggler Pure Internet radios

O2 Joggler sees price cut by a third originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:37:31 +0000

The Palm Pre - launched in the UK back in October - has now being stocked by high street giant The Carphone Warehouse. O2 has the UK exclusive on the Pre (for now) and is offering the handset for free on ?35 per month, 2-year contracts.

From a customer point of view the only difference is that there's now more places you can pick up a Pre, but from a business standpoint, seeing the new webOS device hit the shelves across CPW's many stores might make a difference in sales volume, especially in the lead up to Christmas.

Sales stats for the device aren't known, but O2 said of the Pre's launch that it sold more Pre handsets on the day than the total number of handsets that it normally sells on the average day.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Palm Pre Carphone Warehouse O2 Pre Palm

Palm Pre goes on sale at the Carphone Warehouse originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:54:18 +0000

Since the iPhone, where to get it and what tariff to choose seems to be the hot topic of the moment, we thought we'd guide any would-be contract signers to a deal that Quidco is running.

The cashback website Quidco has teamed up with Mobiles.co.uk to offer a discounted rate on all iPhone handsets, meaning that all Quidco members will get a ?60 cashback when arranging an 18- or 24-month contract with either Orange or O2.

In order to give you a run down of the exact tariffs from each operator, Pocket-lint has collated all the info in our feature - Best iPhone tariffs: O2 vs Orange. You'll then be in a good position to pop over and join Quidco before heading over to Mobiles.co.uk.

Tags: Phones iPhone Tariffs Orange O2 Quidco Mobilescouk Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: £60 cashback on iPhone contracts with O2 or Orange originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

On the day that all eyes are on Orange and its first day of selling the iPhone, we thought we'd try and keep an even hand and let you know of a deal that O2 is offering as Sky Mobile TV launches on the iPhone.

In a bid to remain competitive now that another operator is getting in on the iPhone act, O2 is offering 3 months free Sky Mobile TV when you download the Sky Mobile TV app, worth ?6 a month.

The service will allow you to watch Sky Sports 1, 2, 3, Sky Sports News, Sky Sports Extra, At The Races and ESPN - all available through Wi-Fi.

To take advantage of the offer, text SKY to 2020 for your promotional code - you will need this as part of the subscription process and then download the app by searching for BSkyB Mobile TV - the code will then be used during the sign-in process for the app.

Just to help you out here's the small print in a more regular size:

"Available to iPhone customers on O2 in the UK only. After your first three months' subscription, you will automatically be charged for Sky Mobile TV at ?6 a month unless you notify Sky that you no longer wish to receive the service before the last day of your 3 month free subscription period. Only one promotion code per mobile phone number. Texts to 2020 are free. Offer limited to 150,000 customers or until 2nd February 2010, whichever comes first".

There's a link here to the O2 page where you'll find details in full.

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Tags: Phones iPhone apps Sky Mobile TV O2 Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: 3 months free Sky Mobile TV on iPhone with O2 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:47:20 +0000

An annoucement from O2 suggests the operator is going to attempt to fight the competition, as well as rivals, for iPhone customers by adding value through bundle packages, rather than any price cuts.

O2 has launched the "Total Connectivity" plan for iPhone customers that sees new and existing iPhone customers buying the iPhone Internet Tethering bolt-on and getting the standard O2 home broadband package completely free.
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Pay monthly iPhone customers who shell out for the ?9.79 per month 3GB Internet Tethering Bolt On before 31 December 2009 will be entitled to the O2 Home Broadband standard package for free, presumably on a month for month basis.

Alternatively, customers can claim a ?7.34 per month discount against any other O2 Home Broadband product including Premium, Pro or O2 Home Broadband Access.

The deal goes live from 10 November at which point we'd imagine there'll be more info (including the small print) over at o2.co.uk/iPhone.

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Tags: Phones iPhone O2 Apple Software Broadband Tariffs

O2 bundles home broadband with iPhone tethering bolt on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:45:34 +0000

O2 has confirmed it will be allowing customers to unlock their iPhones to work on different networks after they have served their full contract term.

On the 2-year anniversary of the iPhone going on sale in the UK, O2 has confirmed the news to Pocket-lint and says that iPhone customers wishing to leave O2 have to call customer services and ask them to unlock their iPhone.

Pay monthly customers who are not at the end of their contract will be required to honour it or pay up until its end.

iPhone Pay & Go customers who have had their iPhone for more than 12 months are entitled to unlock their devices too, but for a fee of ?14.97.

The news was initially revealed by none other than Matthew Key, the chairman and chief executive officer of O2 parent company, Telefonica Europe in a Q&A article in The Times.

In answer to the question: "Is there any truth in the rumour that after Orange and Vodafone are able to sell the iPhone you will not allow people to unlock their iPhone, even if they are out of their contract period?" Key states:

"There is absolutely no truth in that rumour. Once the iPhone becomes available on other UK networks, we will allow O2 customers to unlock their iPhones, although of course they will still need to honour any outstanding contract period they have. At the end of their contract period, they are entirely free to move to another operator - though naturally we hope they won't want to!"

Nb. This post has been amended to correct the error that stated pay monthly customers would also have to pay the ?14.97.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones O2 Apple iPhone

O2 to let customers unlock iPhones originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:30:18 +0000

Lawyer: Mrs. Simpson, what did you and your husband do after you were ejected from the restaurant?

Marge Simpson: We pretty much went straight home…

Lawyer: Mrs. Simpson, you are under oath!

Marge Simpson: We drove around until 3AM looking for another all-you-can-eat fish restaurant.

Lawyer: And when you couldn’t find one?

Marge Simpson: We went fishing…

Lawyer: Do these sound like the actions of a man who had all he could eat?

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What am I talking about, and why have a started with a quote from a Simpsons episode? Well, because it's the same problem that is affecting the mobile phone industry at the moment, with neither Ofcom or the Advertising Standards Agency apparently bothered that consumers are being lied to on a daily basis every time they sign up to a mobile phone contract.

The frustration, and one that was experienced by Homer Simpson in the episode, comes down to the definition of Unlimited.

In my books and strangely enough in the dictionary Unlimited means:

Main Entry: un?lim?it?ed

Pronunciation: -li-m-td

Function: adjective

Date: 15th century

1 : lacking any controls : unrestricted 2 : boundless, infinite 3 : not bounded by exceptions : undefined

— un?lim?it?ed?ly adverb

However, talk to any mobile operator and the word "unlimited" seems to come with an astrix that highlights caveats or that the term is based on our "fair usage policy".

According to Orange, that "Unlimited" bundle means 750MB of data, far from what the dictionary describes above.

But why isn't the ASA or Ofcom clamping down on these unfair and misleading claims?

When we contacted Ofcom we got the following response:

"As far as I know, this is not something that Ofcom has published anything on".

Not published anything? Really? However they are happy to spend thousands investigating why people buy pirated DVDs on the Internet - surely they just go to torrent sites?

Meanwhile the ASA doesn't believe that mobile operators lying or being quiet about the terms and conditions of a data plan that could, potentially, cost you thousands of pounds over the course of a contract is that much of an issue.

"The ASA does not have guidance on the use of the term 'unlimited' as the ASA position is derived from the Advertising Codes and previous case history (our ASA case law)", an ASA spokesperson told Pocket-lint when we asked them what was what.

"In a nutshell, the term 'unlimited' can be used to describe a service that, if containing a fair-usage policy, will only affect the a-typical user. (i.e. the majority of users will not be affected.)"

So what's the solution?

I believe that mobile phone operators shouldn't be allowed to use the unlimited moniker unless it really is that. As mobile phones increasingly become the gateway to our digital lives on the go we are likely to be consuming more images, more video, more music and therefore more data.

I don't want to sign up to a contract where there is normally a termination fee if I haven't been made aware of all the facts before signing up.?

At the moment words like "Unlimited" are nothing more than lies, even if "a typical user" won't supposedly be affected.?

Although the ASA might consider "unlimited" an acceptable term for tariffs with data caps or fair usage policies, here at Pocket-lint, we don't. And as such, we are making a stand. We will no longer continue to use the word "unlimited" when the tariff it refers to clearly is no such thing.

We will also be sure to make such caps or usage limits apparent every time we cover news that refers to an "unlimited" deal.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Tariffs Orange Vodafone T-Mobile O2 3

Limited "unlimited" claims should be banned originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:37:26 +0000

We've been doing a little bit of digging to find out who, in the UK, will be offering Motorola's forthcoming Droid handset. The Android 2.0-sporting QWERTY slider scored a whopping 9/10 in its Pocket-lint review, but given that it's supposed to be due on Friday in the States, we're not seeing any sign of the handset in Britain.

We gave all the UK operators a call to find out exactly whether any of them were planning on stocking the device. O2 told us that it wasn't going to be selling the handset, despite its German wing selling it as the "Milestone". 3 said the same thing - there are no current plans to offer the handset at this time.

T3 spoke to Nicola Shenton, head of handset and device marketing at T-Mobile UK, who told the magazine that the company had tested the phone, but passed it up. We also talked to Orange and Vodafone. Orange told us that it had nothing to announce other than the fact it's selling the Motorola DEXT, and Vodafone promised to call us back and haven't.

From that, we can rule out three of the major five operators. Orange is looking likely, especially given the non-denial when other networks were happy to confirm "no". ?We'll update you as and when we hear more from Orange or Vodafone.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Motorola Motorola Droid Android Verizon O2 Orange 3 Vodafone T-Mobile

Who'll be selling the Motorola Droid in the UK? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:17:37 +0000

The furore over the Orange terms and conditions for the iPhone may be dying down now that the mobile operator has said it'll happily turn a blind eye to customers using streaming services like Spotify and YouTube, but there still remains the issue over this 750MB per month data limit. This is what Orange has described as "unlimited" mobile internet access and we've got no particular issue with the company stretching the definitions of the word, any more than we have with all the others that do it. The real question is though, just what will 750MB get you?

Fortunately, Orange has a mobile broadband data calculator on its own site, so we had a play to find out how far our notional budget will stretch. As it turns out, not very far.

Attempt 1 - The Power User

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Emails

20/day

Attachments

5/day

IM

1 hour/day

Browsing

2 hours/day

Music

1 song/day

Video streaming

30 minutes/day

Total

5.01GB

Verdict

Bust

First of all, we tried a few stats of the kind we would expect most gadget fiends and Pocket-lint regulars would stick to. A couple of hours of browsing a day while on the way to work or using up a little dead time, plus just one song download and lets say a half hour episode of your favourite TV show and, unfortunately, we're already well off the scale. Time to calm it down a bit.

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Attempt 2 - The Heavy User

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Emails

20/day

Attachments

5/day

IM

30 minutes/day

Browsing

1 hour/day

Music

1 song/day

Video streaming

10 minutes/day

Total

2GB

Verdict

Bust

This time just a few emails with attachments, only 30 minutes on IM, half the browsing we were doing before, the same one song a day and just a couple of 5 minute YouTube clips every 24 hours and we're already three times over the limit. Back to the drawing board.

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Attempt 3 - Medium Use

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Emails

15/day

Attachments

3/day

IM

15 minutes/day

Browsing

30 minutes/day

Music

1 song/week

Video streaming

4 minutes/day

Total

817MB

Verdict

Bust

This time we only just went over. Let's cut the IM down to a minimum. We can use phone calls, email and text for that kind of thing. Again, just half an hour of browsing now, just the one YouTube clip and only one download per week seems to be about what Orange is telling us we should be using. It's not a lot and maybe that video streaming could be substituted for a little more music streaming but you're still living on the data edge somewhat.

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Attempt 4 - Light User

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Emails

10/day

Attachments

1/day

IM

5 minutes/day

Browsing

10 minutes/day

Music

1 song/week

Video streaming

4 minutes/day

Total

632MB

Verdict

Inside

To take it down to its bare essentials with only 10 minutes of browsing per day and we find ourselves comfortably inside, but that doesn't exactly look like the kind of freedom we'd expected on an unlimited package no matter how "unlimited" it is.

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Attempt 5 - The Streamer

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Emails

0

Attachments

0

IM

0

Browsing

0

Music

0

Video streaming

5 minutes/day

Total

686MB

Verdict

Inside

Finally, let's say, instead, that we forgo all other pleasures apart from streaming video. Emails are for wimps, IM for losers, browsing should be done on a computer and downloading is so 2002. With that in mind we can bathe in the luxury of 5 whole minutes of video streaming each day without going over the 750MB per month barrier, and that's it.

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Attempt 6 - The no media option

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Emails

50/day

Attachments

10/day

IM

1 hour/day

Browsing

1 hour/day

Music

0

Video streaming

0

Total

745MB

Verdict

Inside

Of course, if you really want to, you can save all your credits and ditch streaming and downloads altogether which is essentially what the original terms and conditions might have you do, and for good reason it seems. Suddenly, you get up to an hour's IM and browsing per day with as many emails and attachments as you can shake a stick at. Now that is what you might call unlimited.

So, there's a few fairly obvious conclusions we can take from this:

1) 750MB per month doesn't really get you that far
2) Video streaming will get you into trouble on this package
3) Although O2 simply presents users with the company's rather nebulous fair usage policy, it could well work out at more. Fortunately, both operators apply a warning system if you go over the limits rather than charging you the excess but it's probably not worth being a persistent offender.

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Related links:

• Feature - 12 Apps worth jailbreaking your iPhone for
• Feature - Best iPhone tariffs: O2 vs Orange

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Orange iPhone O2 Features

How much does the Orange unlimited iPhone package give you? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:48:31 +0000

Orange's terms and conditions for its mobile internet ban applications like Spotify, AudioBoo, Ustream, Facebook and YouTube, something which could be of concern to those considering buying an iPhone with the mobile network.

In the company's T&Cs, it says:?"Not to be used for other activities (eg using your handset as a modem, non-Orange internet based streaming services, voice or video over the internet, instant messaging, peer to peer file sharing, non-Orange internet based video). Should such use be detected notice may be given and Network protection controls applied to all services which Orange does not believe constitutes mobile browsing".

That covers a whole host of different applications that are wildly popular on Apple's handheld computing platform. The company also limits its "Unlimited" plan to just 750MB per month, as Dan pointed out in his comparison feature the other day, which might be worth considering if you're planning to use these apps heavily.

The issue was spotted and pointed out to the BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones, who says: "if too many power users start streaming TV and playing online games on their phones, the Orange network may buckle under the strain".

Orange has, however, commented to the BBC - saying: "We do recognise that iPhone customers will use popular streaming services such as YouTube, Spotify etc. As a result we do not intend to apply network protection controls to anyone, as long as they are within their usage allowance. The T&Cs are in place to reserve the right to restrict access should they continue to exceed our Fair Usage policy, and our other Mobile data users suffer a reduced data experience as a result".

If you don't mean it, Orange, why put it in your T&Cs?

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Orange iPhone O2 Spotify Facebook YouTube

Orange T&Cs ban Spotify, Facebook and YouTube originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:52:50 +0000

If you're expecting to see a major difference in the cost of an iPhone between these two UK networks, then think again. It's not an accident that the price is similar. When it boils down to it, it seems likely that both companies buy the handsets with the same overheads and naturally that's going to be passed on to the customer. It may be a different story by the time Vodafone comes along but for now, that's the way it is.

That said, there are differences in the price plans, if not the overall cost of each package. Combine that with an alternative way of looking at each deal and you start to get a better picture of where the real value lies. Take a look. The O2 packages are in blue and the ones from Orange in, er, orange.

What strikes you first if you glance over to the far right column is that, generally speaking, those 24 month contracts seem to cost a lot more in the long run. In fact, if you look at the differences in similar deals over the two time periods, it's quite astonishing. So, it appears that extending the term to alleviate the initial outlay might not be such a good idea. Together with the fact that your phone is more likely to be out-dated in the course of 2 years and it looks very bad indeed.

Beyond that, it's quite impressive how well these tariffs have been set out within each provider as well. The jump up from handset to handset within each tariff is regular according to the time frame of pay back. The bottom line is that you're not going to find one deal that significantly better value than another. On the other hand, it does give you a better idea of which one might best suit your needs.

Other Choices

Other important considerations beyond the plan are going to be over which network is going to suit you. Both providers offer "unlimited" Wi-Fi hotspot access with their partners as well as making you pay additionally for internet tethering as well.

Both also provide what they call unlimited data packages too. Orange puts a real figure to it of 750MB, whereas O2 only refers to a fair usage policy which is designed to reflect proper usage as well as the user's drain on the rest of the network. In practice, it's designed to make sure people are just using their allowances for mobile browsing, but at the same time it does give the company a license to set the bar wherever it pleases. Which proves to be more in practice is anyone's guess.

Much has been suggested about O2's quality of network as well, but its people have also looked to the handset's short-comings to explain a perceived poor reception. It's unlikely there'll be a huge difference with Orange, so at the end of the day, you'll do best to stick with the provider that works best in your area.

Last of all, it's worth considering the added benefits. One reason for not talking about the PAYG plans is that Orange is applying its animal tariffs to them where you can receive free weekend and evening calls or unlimited texts or free music. At the same time, O2 has top-up bonuses to consider as well.

So, until Vodafone arrives onto the scene, what it might all come down to is Orange Wednesdays and a bit of personal choice. Of course, by that time there'll be a new iPhone to consider - in leaks if not in reality. Decisions, decisions. Ever thought about Android?

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Related links:

• News - Orange confirms 10 November for iPhone

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Orange iPhone Apple Tariffs Features O2

Best iPhone tariffs: O2 vs Orange originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:22:07 +0000

Suggesting a UK annoucement might not be too far off, it's been revealed the Droid by Motorola, recently jointly announced with Verizon in the US, is to launch in another country soon.

O2 Germany is to offer the new Android handset, but under a different name - Droid being what Verizon has dubbed its forthcoming family of Android-based phones.

In Germany the Droid will launch as the GSM "Milestone" sometime in November although details for consumers are yet to be confirmed.

Whether this suggests the phone may be an O2 offering in the UK - the operator already boasts the iPhone and the Palm Pre in its device portfolio - is anyone's guess.

Pocket-lint got in touch with Motorola in the UK as the Droid was announced to see when it might be touching down in the UK. At the time a Motorola spokesperson said:

"We've not yet announced availability of this device in other markets, but look forward to continuing to expand our Android-based portfolio around the world".

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Motorola Droid O2 Motorola Milestone Android

Motorola Droid to launch as Milestone in Germany originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:54:05 +0000

O2 has announced the launch of O2 Techies, a new tech support service offering on-site set up, specialised training and helpline support to O2's small business customers across the UK.

The Techies are said to be a "dedicated fleet of specially trained technicians" available to make on-site visits to install and set up mobile devices, mobile broadband, laptops, car kits and satnav systems either on an individual basis or for a whole team of staff.

Hoping to fill the gap in the market that currently stands at 65% of small business with no pro IT or tech support, the cost to set-up one handset is ?125, which - without wanting to cast any aspersions on individual Techies who are no doubt highly trained individuals - seems a little steep.

As well as set-up services, subscriptions are also available for ongoing support that provides a dedicated helpline as well as remote problem solving as far as PCs and phones go which is charged at ?6.38 per month per employee.

Tags: Phones O2 Biz O2 Techies Hardware

O2 Techies support service announced for small businesses originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:09:47 +0100

O2 has announced the launch of O2 Recycle, an online service that claims to make it easy for people to recycle old handsets in return for cash.

Run by Redeem, the service can be used by anyone in the UK, regardless of network, and as well as phones will accept MP3 players, digital cameras, GPS devices and other consumer electronics.

People can visit www.o2recycle.co.uk, enter details of their device, get an estimated value, print off a receipt while a pre-paid postage bag is sent to them to put the phone and receipt in and send back.

Once the device has been received and is confirmed to be in good working order, the customer receives a text to say that the money will be transferred to their account.

For every device O2 will donate ?1 to the "It's Your Community" charity while the products are sold on to global markets by Redeem.

Tags: Eco Phones Mobile phones O2 Redeem Gadgets Online

O2 offers online mobile phone recycling originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:02:55 +0100

The days of the mobile phone being just a device for making emergency calls are far behind us, but while most of us have handsets that can at least play music or download our email on the go, the biggest fear now facing mobile phone operators and carriers around the world is the ability to use the mobile Internet connection that we all feel is our right, to stream live television over the network.

They say you wait forever and then two buses come at once. And that's exactly what happened for the iPhone in the last seven days. Not one live streaming TV service, but two were launched. The result is that O2 in the UK has had to issue a warning over the?TVCatchup iPhone site, one of the services that if users use too much, means they could be cut off.

Meanwhile AT&T in the US had to move in to get a new app by TV tuner maker?Elgato?that allowed users to stream television from a TV tuner plugged into their Mac directly to their iPhone over the 3G network, changed.

While Apple has the power to force a change in the app, something they have?done, and O2 to block the streaming service, something they are threatening, other handset platforms, which are more open, like Android or Symbian, don't have as operator friendly approach and that's before you even start to address jailbroken apps that allow offerings like SlingPlayer Mobile to work on the 3G network.?

The problem of course isn't about you watching television, although it does raise questions about TV licensing laws in the UK, but about the strain on the network.

Strangely operators like O2 and AT&T are already struggling under the strain of supplying data requests to all it's smartphone users. Add in a constant stream of large amounts of data, i.e., from a popular streaming TV service, and I wouldn't be surprised if the networks around the globe buckle massively under the strain.

Forget the previous concerns of the operators in losing revenue over VoIP calls, thanks to services like Skype and Google Voice, think about the cost of managing a network that is now about data, rather than calls without the ability to charge SMS prices.

So what's the solution? In the short term I wouldn't be surprised if mobile operators moved to either ban them outright or move to create a tiered data system aimed at those who want to consume the larger data content over those that don't.

We might have moved into an "all you can eat" pricing model at the moment in the form of "unlimited" packages, but that is no longer beneficial for the operators for the admittedly minority users who are heavy consumers of data.

While I would love to believe that heavy data users will be able to continue as is, I just can't see that happening. A tiered system based on speed or data consumption would benefit virtually everyone just as it does in the fixed (landline) broadband market. Those who need to stream movies or games can do so with a service that fits their needs, and more importantly have the right to complain if it doesn't. Those who just need email or basic websurfing can do that too.

Whatever the handset or the app one thing is certain - the headache facing operators on how to manage the network, and therefore our expectations of it are only going to get worse.

Tags: Comment Phones AT and T O2 iPhone Elgato TVCatchup Mobile phone apps iPhone apps SlingPlayer Mobile SlingPlayer

TV streaming has mobile operators running scared originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:05:12 +0100

O2 has been tweeting about the launch of the Palm Pre, which has just gone on sale, and if you believe the mobile phone network then it's been doing rather well. The company said that it sold more Palm Pre handsets today than the total number of handsets that it normally sells on the average day.

On top of that, apparently 50% of people buying a Pre also picked up a Touchstone wireless charger for the device, which allows you to charge it by just placing it on a pad while electromagnetic induction does its thing.

As previously reported, O2 is selling the Pre at ?30 to ?45 per month on an 18-month contract, with unlimited mobile internet. The lower tiers of tariffs entail a ?100 splash-out on the handset itself at point of purchase.

Did you get one? What do you think? This is what we thought.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones O2 Palm Pre

O2 reporting healthy sales of Palm Pre originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:02:45 +0100

The Palm Pre, the first of the smartphone maker's next-gen webOS devices, is now available in the UK exclusive to O2.

Reports suggest pre-release interest in the Pre has been high, but arguably the contract price is too, so it will be interesting to see, upon weighing up the pros and cons, how many consumers opt for the new phone over strong competition.

Over on O2's site, the two cheapest 18-month tariffs are ?29.38 a month and ?34.26 a month with 75 minutes and 125 texts and 600 minutes and 500 texts bundled respectively.

Both include "unlimited" Wi-Fi and mobile internet, but see the Pre costing ?96.89. To get the Pre for free on an 18-month contract, you'll have to sign up for a ?44.05 a month contract.

As far as 2-year contracts go, ?34.26 a month will see no charge for the Pre and 600 minutes and 500 texts.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Palm Palm Palm Pre O2 Tariffs

Palm Pre goes on sale in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:06:23 +0100

There are "thousands" of iPhones running on the 3 network across the UK, a spokesperson for the operator has told Pocket-lint.

The comment came in response to our query following a report from The Telegraph that all five mobile carriers in the UK are currently offering the iPhone, whether or not they are official operator partners. ?

T-Mobile has been offering the device to high-spending customers as part of an unofficial retention plan, and? 3 is employing the same policy, albeit in very limited numbers.

"Thousands of people have chosen to use their iPhone on the 3 network", the 3 spokesperson told us, referring to iPhones that have either been unofficially unlocked - "jailbroken" - or officially unlocked and in the UK via distribution channels in Europe.

O2 is currently the only official Apple iPhone partner in the UK, but is soon to be joined by T-Mobile merger partner Orange this year and Vodafone in 2010.

Tags: Phones iPhone 3 O2 Orange Vodafone T-Mobile Rumours Apple

"Thousands" of iPhones on 3 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:59:02 +0100

Following the news that O2 has lost its operator exclusive on the iPhone, Carphone Warehouse has suffered a similar fate with its retail exclusive.

Phones4U has announced that it will be selling the Apple iPhone range from both Orange and O2 in shops and online while Orange's in-store deal with HMV means the Apple mobile will also be on sale in select HMV stores too.

The news from Phones4U alone means the iPhone will be available soon at an additional 400-plus shops across the UK.

Brendan Sweeney, Phones4U's managing director said in a release: "We are very pleased to be partnering with both Orange and O2 to sell the iPhone. Recognised for our in-depth understanding of the youth market and their needs, our knowledgeable and skilled staff are in a strong position to introduce the Apple iPhone to our Phones4U customer base".

It's as yet unknown when Orange iPhone sales will begin, with mid-November thought likely, while Vodafone will also offer the device in 2010.

Read

Related links:

• Reviewed - iPhone 3GS

Tags: Phones iPhone Phones4U O2 Orange Mobile phone industry Vodafone HMV Carphone Warehouse

Phones4U and HMV to offer the iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:48:59 +0100

If you are considering getting the Pre, then it might interest you to know that more than a quarter of UK consumers surveyed recently by TNS have expressed an interest in buying Palm's new Pre smartphone, due to go on sale via O2 in the UK at the end of this week.

26% of those quizzed will "definitely or probably" snap up a Pre, which is 10% more than those who expressed similar intent to get an Apple iPhone back in 2007.

The figure that wants a Pre grows to 27% as far as existing O2 customers go and 32% of those asked currently on other networks said they'd consider switching to O2 to get it.

"While awareness of the Palm Pre is lower than that of the iPhone pre-launch, the figures suggest that once the new handset hits the shelves it has the potential to capture a substantial share of the UK's smartphone market", says TNS.

Palm Pre is due to launch in the UK on 16 October. It will be free to O2 customers taking out a ?34.26 a month, 24-month contract and to customers taking an 18-month contract at ?44.05 or ?73.41 per month.

Those opting for ?29.38 or ?34.26, 18-month contracts will have to stump up ?96.89 for the handset.

?

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Related links:

• Reviewed - Palm Pre

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Palm Statistics iPhone TNS O2 Palm Pre

More pre-release demand for the Palm Pre than the iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:55:30 +0100

With more and more "events" from football matches to concerts happening online, and the BBC's iPlayer continually gaining popularity, making sure you have a fast internet connection from your ISP at home is going to be your number one goal if you don't want to play the buffer race game or experience stuttering playback.

With so many ISPs touting their services as the best, how do you know what really is the best one to sign up for? We sat down with Tom Leathes, director at top10-broadband.co.uk to get his opinion on who are the best performers right now.

The best ISP for video

Top choice for watching any video content on the internet is Virgin Media's XXL Cable package that runs on a fibre-optic cable and delivers a 50MB/sec connection into your home. Currently available in about 70% of the UK, there are no load sharing issues associated with ADSL (ie you get all 50MB rather than sharing it with others on your street) and the 50MB/sec speed is fast, damn fast. The catch is that you'll have to pay for it, prices start at around ?18 a month plus your phone line bring it up to around the ?30 a month marker.

A good ISP for video

If you can't get Virgin's top of the range package, Leathes suggests another, the slower Virgin Media Cable offering. It offers connections speeds of 20MB/sec and has the benefit of being available in 80% of UK homes. It won't help you, however, if you're not in a Virgin Media area at all.

A good ISP that isn't Virgin Media then, is ADSL. Decent performers, says Leathes, are BT, Be and O2 in that order, offering a range of packages that will all be fast enough to stream football, concerts and anything else for that matter into your house (read porn).

Broadband on a budget

Of course we haven't all got ?360 for a year's subscription for the best package available, but that doesn't mean you've got to suffer. Those on a budget should look at Plusnet's 8MB/sec offering. It will give you an average speed of around 3 to 4MB/sec download speeds and cost ?5.99 a month. At the moment Plusnet are also offering the first 3 months free making the first year a rather more price friendly ?53.91.

Look for triple play deals

"When looking for value, a triple play package that bundles broadband with TV and telephony will always provide the best value at whatever speed you opt for", recommends Julian Clover at Broadbandtv.com

One final tip

A word of warning though, if you are looking to stream HD, this package isn't cut out for it. For that you will need a download speed of at least 8MB/sec to be comfortable. You can do it for less of course, but you won't get the best experience.?

Tags: Software Online ISPs Virgin Media BT Be O2 Video downloads Video on demand Features

Watching video online? Which ISP should you use originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:06:53 +0100

We first saw the Palm Pre at CES 2009 and we published our review of the Palm Pre on 25 June. Why the history lesson? Well because it is hitting shelves of O2 stores in the UK next week, so we thought it was time to update all those eager to get their hands on the new device.

9 months is a long time. It's just about enough time to have a baby, but it is a long time in the life of a mobile phone handset and some will question why it has taken the best part of a year for the Palm Pre to arrive in Europe. Sure, there has been a minor hardware switch from EV-DO to HSDPA yet other manufacturers consider this from the outset. We've asked Palm about the delay, but have never got a reasonable answer.

One thing is sure though, the Palm Pre got rave reviews at the time, but how does it stand up against the latest collection of mobile phones? We now have Android devices like the HTC Hero and Motorola's DEXT which offer some of the same features that were well received on the Pre. If you've not read our review of the Palm Pre, why not head over there now?

What about the hardware?

The first thing to note about the Pre is just how glorious the screen looks. It is unique with curved edges and the webOS which fits the device perfectly. The touch response is very good indeed, with smooth scrolling between pages. It has more than just a dose of Apple's iPhone about it, and has to be one of the best looking interfaces you can currently get.

It's an interesting device too, because of the decision to make it a true hybrid. You have the slide-out QWERTY keyboard for text entry, but a system that works efficiently by touch. It side-steps one of the biggest problems with full touch devices, which is losing half your screen (or more) each time you want to enter something like a URL.

Palm's efficient design in the Pre gives a very usable balance between the keyboard and the screen, ideally suited for those that want a keyboard for writing those long emails, but want a rich multimedia experience from the screen space available. As a BlackBerry user, it makes a lot of sense and you get the reassurance of a keyboard, whilst enjoying multi-touch website navigation, all in a device that is still relatively compact.

Sure, the keyboard isn't as good as a BlackBerry, it is a little cramped and the rubbery feel is a little odd, but it works well enough and you do get used to the thumb cramp after a while.

Battery life is a disappointment however. During the testing period we've found ourselves charging it frequently – often more than just over night. The fancy Touchstone charge is a welcomed accessory, but in reality you'll probably want to get one for your phone to live on at your desk at work to make sure you have enough juice to keep it running.

What's all this about Synergy?

Synergy was a buzzword with the Palm Pre at launch. It allows you to bring in your data from various different sources to view them in one location. Essentially, it lets you bring in Google and Facebook contacts over the air and mash them in with your Outlook contacts into one address book.

Setup is blissfully easy and you can then find full rich contact views, with images from Facebook. Enter a contact and you'll find all their information there, so you can call, SMS or email them really easily. It's not unique these days with Motoblur offering the same idea and more comprehensively, even if it doesn’t look so slick.

And what about multi-tasking?

The other major plus point about the Palm Pre's webOS is multi-tasking. Yes, you can multi-task on Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and S60 devices, but none of them handle it with the confidence that the Palm Pre does. Press the central button (which looks like a trackball, but is just a button) and you spring into card view, where all your open apps can be flicked through till you find the one you want.

It means you can very easily and visually switch from one application to another without having to access any menus. Using these cards also adds another bonus – if you want lots of browser screens open, they exist individually, rather than grouped into the back of another screen.

When you have finished with an application you simply swipe the card off the top of the page and it closes – no pressing a Quit or Close button, no scrabbling around with a tiny X in the corner or anything like that. So simple, but it works so well.

Does it have a decent browser?

The browser is a shining example of how accessing the Internet on the move should be. Multi-touch zooming is exceptionally quick and double tap resizing focuses on the text on the page. And the combination of plenty of screen space and the keyboard means you can go to a webmail page and use the full online version, rather than a poor mobile alternative.

What about downloadable apps?

So with the substantial bases covered, what's wrong with the Pre? Welcome to the App Catalog. When we sat down with Palm and O2 back in July to discuss the Pre, a Palm official responded to our "why the delay?" question by pointing out that the App Catalog would have more available for UK customers when it finally launched.

Perhaps this is true, although the recent announcement that the webOS Developer Program will open in December reveals that it isn't really the case. And this is something of a sticking point. Browsing through the App Catalog, it seems sparsely populated. We downloaded the LinkedIn app and have been enjoying Tweed, the Twitter client (which isn't great for posting images to Twitter), but beyond that we're left wanting.

Where is the easy access to instant messaging? Yes, you have Google Talk and AIM included as standard, but there is no Windows Live or Yahoo option, and no app support for them either. There is no Skype, no Facebook, no integration with Flickr.

Perhaps those apps which provide a link to an online service will never really fly, because you can so easily open a browser page for them. We've happily had a Facebook Mobile page open and you can opt for mobile versions of many instant messenger programs too. But in a world where competing app stores get so much attention, we can't help feeling that Palm needs to catch up.

Should I buy one then?

The Palm Pre is a fantastic handset. It has real strengths in multi-tasking and making the most of a hybrid configuration, with a great browser offering. But the lack of depth in support for webOS is a real worry. It doesn’t have the established background that the iPhone gives you, or the choice of operators. Whether you'll get syncing with iTunes or not will yet to be seen, but in the long-term it isn't a sure thing.

It doesn't have the strength of developers currently working on the Android Market place either, and with handsets coming left, right and centre, you're spoilt for choice. Perhaps these things will come to Palm, but it's unfortunate that they didn't take the initiative in the UK earlier in the year.

The Palm Pre is launching as an O2 exclusive in the UK and can be yours for free on a ?34.26 a month tariff, if you sign-up for 2 years. 18-month contracts start from ?44.05 a month for a free phone, but if a kind relative is going to gift you ?100, you could get it for under ?30 a month.

Related links:

• Review - Palm Pre mobile phone
• News - Palm Pre to launch 16 October in the UK
• Link - Palm Pre from O2

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Palm Palm Pre O2

Palm Pre UK: Pre-nuptial considerations originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:27:35 +0100

O2 has announced it is to offer the Sony Ericsson Naite - the first of the manufacturer's "GreenHeart" range.

With its overall carbon footprint said to be reduced by 15%, the Naite is made from recycled and recyclable plastics, comes with a low power consumption charger, reduced packaging and an e-manual.

Features for the 3G handset include Wi-Fi, a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, an FM radio and an expandable memory up to 8GB.

The Sony Ericsson Naite is free on selected pay monthly tariffs and ?97.86 on Pay & Go. As an added incentive Naite purchasers will be offered either a solar powered charger, a family Eco day out, an organic food hamper, or the option to give a donation to charity.

Hit play on the video above to have O2's big green cheese talk you through the new eco device.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Sony Ericsson Video Eco O2

VIDEO: O2 intros green Sony Ericsson Naite originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:11:58 +0100

O2 has admitted that its Natwest-run O2 Money pre-paid Visa cards are suffering some problems with loading cash. Customers attempting to fill up their cards are finding their payment details rejected, even if perfectly valid.

A customer support representative that Pocket-lint contacted confirmed the issue, but offered a workaround for those who are unable to get cash onto their card. Instead of signing in and attempting to load cash, you can pick the "Give Money" option when not signed in.

This can be found under the "Adding Money" on the O2 Money website, and is under the "A friend or relative loading your card" heading. We tested the solution and found it to work perfectly, though it's restricted to ?100 for the first load.

If you're able to load cash onto your card, but can't spend it, then you might be running into the fact that the card can't be used for open-ended transactions. O2's FAQ section says:

"There are some restrictions on your O2 Money card. You won't be able to use it in situations when the amount to pay is left open-ended - like in hotels, for car rental or pay-at-pump petrol stations. It also won't work for wire-transfer money orders".

"Other restrictions also apply for all Load & Go and non verified Cash Manager cards (the ones with an ?1,800 load limit) to help prevent under 18's from buying over 18 related products and services such as gambling".

If you're having any other issues with your O2 Money card, then let us know in the comments.

UPDATE: O2 has got in touch with us, and is saying that while there might be a few incidents of people having difficulty loading money, there isn't a system-wide problem that they're aware of. They recommend that if you're having issues, you phone the support line - 10202 from an O2 mobile phone.

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Related links:

• News - O2 launches pre-paid O2 Money cards

Tags: Phones Mobile phones O2 shopping Gadgets Natwest

O2 acknowledges O2 Money cash-loading issues originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:20:13 +0100

An iPhone price war is unlikely to happen says the CEO of Carphone Warehouse in the UK when Orange and Vodafone offer the handset in the coming months.

“I am not convinced there will be a price war. That is a game that only leads in one direction and that is all of them losing. This battle will be fought on other fronts", Andrew Harrison, chief executive of Carphone Warehouse has told The Times of London.

The comments come as Orange prepares to stock the iPhone before the end of the year ending a 2 year exclusive run from competing operator O2.

Consumers are hoping that the French owned operator will be forced into a price war alongside Vodafone when it starts stocking the iPhone in 2010 to lure customers away from O2.

According to the article, Orange has already received 125,000 pre-orders for the handset from Apple as customers, unhappy with O2's coverage and recent data network crashes, look to move away from the service.

At the time of the announcement O2 said:

"We always knew that iPhone exclusivity was for a limited period of time, but our relationship with Apple continues and will be an ongoing success".

"We also offer award-winning customer service and benefits, which is why more people choose O2 than any other network in the UK", says the operator.

Expect tariff wars to get heated.

Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phones iPhone Orange O2 Vodafone Tariffs

iPhone price war unlikely originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:19:00 +0100

O2 has run out of the iPhone 3GS, according to reports. Ahead of the operator losing exclusivity of the high-end smartphone, stock issues have meant there are none to be sold.

An O2 spokesperson told the Telegraph: ?We continue to see extremely high levels of demand for the iPhone which means it comes in and out of stock very quickly and will be why the website hasn't had any since Monday".

The O2 website states that both black and white iPhone 3GS are "not currently available" for contract or PAYG customers while the Telegraph suggests the majority of O2 shops across the UK have been without any of the 3GS models for the last 2 weeks.

Some are suggesting that the shortage may be due to Apple diverting stock to Orange ahead of the iPhone sales debut on that network, but back in July, Apple's CFO admitted: ?We are currently unable to make enough iPhone 3GS to meet robust demand and we are working to address this".

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Tags: Phones iPhone O2 Apple Orange Rumours

O2 runs out of the iPhone 3GS originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:43:12 +0100

Shazam has announced that it has done a new deal with a mobile phone operator and teamed up with O2 to offer its music discovery service to O2 customers.

The agreement means that anyone on O2 can use the Shazam service by dialing 2580 on their mobile and holding it up to the music they want to know more about for a few seconds.

The Shazam service will then text the user back with the details about the track, and O2 customers will get a link embedded in that text that will allow them to immediately buy the song.

As far as charges go, each time users call the Shazam music service standard call charges apply (O2 reckons around 12p per call) then each successful identification (or "tag") costs 50p. If the tune can't be recognised, there's no charge.

Shazam has previously launched for platforms - such as the iPhone, Android devices and RIM's BlackBerry smartphones. In 2008 it hit a milestone of identifying over 100 million tracks.

Tags: Phones O2 Shazam Audio Music software Mobile phone apps

Shazam launches for O2 customers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:01:00 +0100

Turns out that Vodafone will be getting their hands on the iPhone too. The company joins Orange, who recently announced that they'd be breaking O2's exclusive and also selling the device. A deal is understood to have been signed on the evening of 28 September.

The news was first rumoured by the Telegraph, but was confirmed to Pocket-lint by Vodafone's press office, who told us that the handset would be arriving in early 2010. Beginning today, Vodafone customers will be able to register their interest in the 3G and 3GS at vodafone.co.uk/iphone.

Vodafone's chief executive, Vittorio Colao, has said that the key reason why his company lost 160,000 subscribers in the last quarter was that he didn't have an iPhone to sell them. Vodafone's most juicy exclusive over the last year has been the Android-equipped HTC Magic.

Analysts suspect that more carriers offering the handset will lead to prices coming crashing down. Steven Hartley, analyst at technology research house Ovum, said: "There will be a price war. Research shows that in every country where there is more than one operator selling it, it is cheaper".

He expects the contracts to come down by about ?5 per month, shaving ?120 off the price of the handset when spread over a 2-year contract. The Telegraph also claims that Virgin Mobile are "desperate" to get their hands on the iPhone, too.

We'll keep you posted of pricing and contract details as soon as they're announced.

Read

Related links:

• News - iPhone 3GS coming to Orange UK
• Via - the Telegraph

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Vodafone Orange O2 iPhone Apple Biz Rumours

iPhone coming to Vodafone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:09:21 +0100

LG has announced its second new Chocolate phone, the BL20, for the UK market.

The little brother to the widescreen BL40, the BL20 gets the same kind of styling, but has a keypad instead of being touchscreen-only.

LG has now announced that it will be available in the UK in Q4 from mobile phone operator O2.

The 12.3mm thick BL20 offers a 2.4-inch display, 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash capable of recording video, touch-sensitive controls on the side and "widget hotkeys" for personalisation.

A new feature is "Clear Memo Capture" which LG says captures notes and drawings "with maximum clarity".

The HSPDA handset's specs include 5-hours talktime, a WAP browser, media playback, FM radio, microSD memory expandable up to 16GB and Bluetooth 2.1.

The "affordable price" LG promises will be revealed nearer the time by O2. We will keep you posted.

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Related links:

• VIDEO - LG BL20 gets promo vid
• PHOTOS - LG BL20 mobile phone

Tags: Phones Mobile phones LG LG BL20 O2

LG Chocolate BL20 dated for UK launch originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:31:43 +0100

O2 has officially responded to the news that it has lost its exclusivity on the Apple iPhone in the UK.

Following the news that later this year Orange will get the iPhone, in a blog post O2 says: "We always knew that iPhone exclusivity was for a limited period of time, but our relationship with Apple continues and will be an ongoing success".

Revealing that it has "over one million iPhone customers" that "remain very important to us", perhaps as a dig towards Apple, O2 does make a point of mentioning it will soon be offering the rival Palm Pre.

"We also offer award-winning customer service and benefits, which is why more people choose O2 than any other network in the UK", says the operator.

Whether that customer service will be enough to attract wannabe iPhone users if Orange undercuts O2 in pricing, only time will tell.

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Related links:

• News - iPhone 3GS coming to Orange UK

Tags: Phones O2 Orange iPhone Apple Biz

O2 comments on losing iPhone exclusive originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:15:34 +0100